Catastrophic floods in Sudan kill dozens and force thousands to flee

Arab Weather - Sudan has been hit in recent days by devastating floods due to heavy seasonal rains that fell on various parts of Sudan, especially the eastern and southern parts. The floods included various states, including Gedaref State (Rahad), which is located in the eastern part of Sudan. The heavy rains and devastating floods also included other states, including River Nile State, Sennar State, and Kassala State.

Devastating August floods in Sudan cause extensive damage

The floods, caused by torrential rains, have caused extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure, resulted in the loss of many lives, and forced thousands of people to flee the threat of devastating floods. The floods have also resulted in the deaths of 32 people in the last 48 hours. The following are the latest statistics on the damage caused by the floods in Sudan.

The floods resulted in

• 32 deaths (according to government sources - Al Jazeera).
• 2,800 displaced persons (IOM).
• 660 houses were completely or partially destroyed (Gadarif State - Rahad).
• 4,000 people affected in different states.

affected areas

• Gedaref State (Rahad)
• River Nile State
• Sennar State
• Kassala State

Effects:

• Collapse of houses and bridges.
• Displacement of families to safe areas.
• Damage to infrastructure and basic services.

Scientific reasons behind Sudan's floods

Continuous heating and expansion of the orbital interval

Due to the geographical location of Sudan, which is considered within the tropical zone, this places it directly within the influence of the tropical break (a detailed explanation of the tropical break is at the end of the report) . That is, Sudan is considered an active area for cumulonimbus clouds due to the continuous heating there throughout the year, especially in the summer months, which makes the process of air evaporation continue there for most days of the year, and this leads to the availability of sufficient moisture for the formation of cumulonimbus clouds, in addition to the tropical moisture that flows into Sudan due to the expansion of the tropical break, which makes it vulnerable throughout the year to the formation of thunderclouds and heavy rainfall.

Surface nature and hydrology

Rainwater flows rapidly in some areas of Sudan due to poorly permeable clay soil and steep valley slopes, increasing the risk of flash floods, especially in mountainous areas and flat plains.

climate change

Recent scientific reports indicate that the intensity and frequency of heavy rainfall in Sudan have increased over recent decades, and that climate change is increasing the likelihood of extreme rainfall over a short period of time, leading to more severe flooding.

Local and human factors

The situation is exacerbated by the weakness of stormwater drainage networks within cities, urban expansion in low-lying areas near flood channels, and the removal of vegetation in some areas, which reduces the soil's ability to absorb rainwater.

What is the ITCZ?

It is an imaginary belt that forms when the northeastern trade winds coming from the northern hemisphere meet the southeastern trade winds coming from the southern hemisphere. When these winds meet, moist air rises, leading to the formation of cumulus clouds, thunderstorms, and heavy rain.

This makes the areas covered by the tropical break vulnerable to the formation of cumulonimbus clouds and rainfall throughout the year, or most days of the year. This makes these areas vulnerable to flooding, especially during the summer months, when the sun's heat increases on the Earth's surface.

In short, Sudan is affected annually by what is known as the monsoon season, which extends from June to September as a result of the northward movement of the Intertropical Zone (ITCZ). This leads to the formation of dense cumulus clouds and heavy rainfall that may last for long hours and cause devastating floods.